Spatial distribution and isotopic signatures of N and C in mosses across Europe.

The accumulation of nitrogen (N) in moss tissue has proven to be a reliable marker of increasing N deposition. However, this measurement does not offer additional data about the origin of pollution. In this respect, the analysis of the N isotopic ratios might be a helpful tool in providing supplementary information about the nature of the nitrogenous species in biomonitoring surveys.

Modelling spatial patterns of correlations between concentrations of heavy metals in mosses and atmospheric deposition in 2010 across Europe.

Background: This paper aims to investigate the correlations between the concentrations of nine heavy metals in moss and atmospheric deposition within ecological land classes covering Europe. Additionally, it is examined to what extent the statistical relations are affected by the land use around the moss sampling sites. Based on moss data collected in 2010/2011 throughout Europe and data on total atmospheric deposition modelled by two chemical transport models (EMEP MSC-E, LOTOS-EUROS), correlation coefficients between concentrations of heavy metals in moss and in modelled atmospheric deposition were specified for spatial subsamples defined by ecological land classes of Europe (ELCE) as a spatial reference system.

Selenium content of Belgian cultivated soils and its uptake by field crops and vegetables.

A series of 695 food crops were collected on 539 soils throughout Belgium. All samples were collected on commercial production fields, omitting private gardens. All crops were analyzed for their selenium (Se) concentration.

Selenium bioaccessibility and bioavailability in Se-enriched food supplements.

Most European people have selenium (Se) intake inferior to recommended values that are considered necessary to ensure the beneficial action of antioxidant selenoproteins. People could therefore tend to have recourse to Se-enriched food supplements (FS) aiming to increase their Se body level. On the Belgian market, three main types of Se-rich FS are available: Se-enriched yeast, selenate-based FS, and selenite-based FS.

Predicted dietary intake of selenium by the general adult population in Belgium.

The total selenium content of about 800 food products purchased in Belgium was determined and combined with food records to determine the nutritional selenium status of Belgian people. The largest selenium concentrations (>1 mg kg(-1)) were found in Brazil nuts and offal, of which the consumption is limited. Usually consumed food groups with the highest selenium concentrations were fish and shellfish (0.

Impact of atmospheric deposition of As, Cd and Pb on their concentration in carrot and celeriac.

Root crops, carrot and celeriac, were exposed to atmospheric deposition in a polluted versus reference area. An effect was observed on the As, Cd and Pb concentrations of the leaves and the storage organs. The concentrations in the whole storage organs correlated well with atmospheric deposition, which shows that they even could be used for biomonitoring.

A dynamic model to calculate cadmium concentrations in bovine tissues from basic soil characteristics.

A chain model was developed to calculate the flow of cadmium from soil, drinking water and feed towards bovine tissues. The data used for model development were tissue Cd concentrations of 57 bovines and Cd concentrations in soil, feed and drinking water, sampled at the farms were the bovines were reared. Validation of the model occurred with a second set of measured tissue Cd concentrations of 93 bovines of which age and farm location were known.

Transfer of soil contaminants to home-produced eggs and preventive measures to reduce contamination.

Uptake studies have shown that chickens foraging on soils contaminated with environmental pollutants accumulate these compounds into their eggs. Home-produced eggs thereby show higher contamination levels than commercially produced eggs. It was the aim of this study to identify the major source of two environmental pollutants in home-produced eggs, i.

Comparison of concentrations of mercury in ambient air to its accumulation by leafy vegetables: an important step in terrestrial food chain analysis.

A biomonitoring network with leafy vegetables was established near a chlor-alkali plant in order to compare the accumulation of mercury to the atmospheric total gaseous mercury (TGM) concentration. Based on data obtained in the reference area the 'normal' mercury concentration in vegetables is between 0.6 and 5.

Trace elements in home-produced eggs in Belgium: levels and spatiotemporal distribution.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, copper and zinc in home-produced eggs, soils and kitchen waste samples of private chicken owners in Belgium, and to determine spatiotemporal differences in trace element contents in eggs. Eggs were sampled in all provinces of Belgium in autumn 2006 and spring 2007. A total number of 59 private chicken owners participated in the study.

Biomonitoring of airborne mercury with perennial ryegrass cultures.

A biomonitoring network with grass cultures was established near a chlor-alkali plant and the mercury concentration in the cultures were compared with the average atmospheric total gaseous mercury (TGM). Biomonitoring techniques based on different exposure periods were carried out. When comparing the mercury concentration in the grass cultures, both the average atmospheric TGM concentration during exposure and the exposure time determined to a large extent the accumulation rate of TGM.

Acidification of forested podzols in North Belgium during the period 1950-2000.

Acidification of forest soils in Europe and North America has been an important concern over the last decades. The last area-covering survey of forest soil acidification in Flanders (North Belgium) goes back to 1985 [Ronse A, De Temmerman L, Guns M, De Borger R. Evolution of acidity, organic matter content, and CEC in uncultivated soils of North Belgium during the past 25 years.

Non-photochemical quenching kinetics during the dark to light transition in relation to the formation of antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin.

Nonlinear regression analysis (NLR) is applied to quantify the dynamic response of non-photochemical fluorescence quenching (NPQ) of Trifolium repens cv. Regal upon dark to light transition. Commonly, only steady-state levels of NPQ are evaluated, ignoring transient kinetics.

Effects of ozone exposure on growth and photosynthesis of beech seedlings (Fagus sylvatica).

The effects of ambient and elevated ozone levels on growth and photosynthesis of beech (Fagus sylvatica) were studied by exposing seedlings in open-top chambers for one growing season to three treatments: charcoal-filtered (CF), non-filtered (NF) and non-filtered air with addition of ozone (30 ppb ozone) on clear days for 8-10 h d (NF +). Ambient levels were relatively low and accumulated to an AOT40 (accumulated exposure over a threshold of 40 ppb) of 4055 ppb h (for the period 23 Apr-30 Sept). The NF + chambers received an AOT40 of 8880 ppb h.